Dani Willis, Kaya Washington and Nyrobi Woods stood in front of their individual stations in the cosmetology department at Memorial High School carefully and strategically working with wigs.

Their skill and devotion to the craft is evident as each student creates and styles her project. Margaret Norton, instructor, explained recently that they earned top honors at the Skills USA competition, where the cosmetology students brought home six first-place medals and best of show.

Once they finish 1,000 clock hours and 500 academic hours in addition to passing a number of tests, the students will be licensed to work in the state of Texas, Norton said.

Willis, a senior, has already been accepted into Stephen F. Austin State University, where she plans to major in sports medicine.

“I will still work and make wigs throughout college,” Willis said, adding she has had people request her work.

Washington, a junior, plans to attend Prairie View University, where she will major in business and minor in English.

“While in college I will work in a salon to pay for school and books and dorm,” Washington said. “After graduation (from college) I want to start my own salon business.”

Woods, a junior, plans to go to Texas Southern University and major in communications.

“But I’m not going right after high school. I want to work in a salon first, then go to college,” Woods said, adding she has been doing hair for a long time.

Norton is very proud of her students.

“I’ve been teaching for 24 years and been in the profession for 37 years,” Norton said. “These are some of my best students. They show so much ambition and want-to.”

In addition to the regular coursework and practical application, Norton also requires her students to take part in service projects — something they love to do and exceed in. During the holidays, the students made Christmas stockings, which they distributed to people in nursing homes who do not have regular visitors.

E-mail: mary.meaux@panews.com

Twitter: MaryMeauxPANews